Earthbeat, National Catholic Reporter quotes Eric LeCompte on the relationship between economic crises, high debt levels and debt relief and the climate crises. Read an excerpt below, or the full article here.

Forgive nations' debts in Jubilee Year, Pope Francis urges COP29 climate summit

By Doreen Ajiambo

With financing the major focus here at the United Nations climate change conference, Cardinal Pietro Parolin delivered directly to world leaders Pope Francis' appeal that wealthy nations use the upcoming 2025 Jubilee Year to forgive debts "as a matter of justice."

Eric LeCompte, executive director of Jubilee USA, a network of religious and development groups that advocates for international debt relief, told EarthBeat in an email that economic crises and high levels of unsustainable debt have prevented many developing countries from putting resources toward climate solutions.

"We have reached a point where debt relief has to be part of the solution in dealing with the climate crisis," he said.

 

Read more here.